The European Union has opened three in-depth investigations to examine whether decisions by Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg with regard to the corporate income tax of certain specific companies, are in line with EU state aid rules. These investigations relate to "tax rulings" with, respectively, Apple (in Ireland), Starbucks (in the Netherlands) and Fiat Finance and Trade (in Luxembourg).

"Tax rulings" are individual decisions by tax authorities which inform the tax payer. These instruments are a kind of "comfort letter" sent by the authorities to companies or individual citizens on tax matters.

The EU says it has "serious doubts" about the compatibility of these particular rulings decisions with the Treaty rules on state aid. They aren't questioning "tax rulings" in general, but rather the particular decisions for Apple, Starbucks, and Fiat.

It is well known that some multinationals are using tax planning strategies to reduce their global tax burden. These aggressive tax planning practices erode the tax bases in our Member States. In particular some multinationals attempt to reduce the profits they declare in countries where taxes are higher. This is mainly achieved through transfer prices, namely the prices charged for commercial transactions between entities which are part of the same corporate group.

The EU believes that in the case of Apple, the national tax authorities renounced to tax part of their revenues by allowing them to lower their taxable profits.

The opening of in-depth investigations is based on a preliminary analysis and before making a decision, the EU says it will look carefully at the comments by the Member States concerned and all interested third parties who want to send in comments. Fukran john - June 11, 2014 at 8:51pm
What do you expect from a cheaters and copiers like Crapple ? All these are done "under the table" . ISheeps are supporting ithieves. LOL. Made for each other. ROFLXND Russell - June 11, 2014 at 5:58pm
[null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67873/67873/67873-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67873/67873/67873-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Samsung EVO MicroSD Cards Drop to Their Lowest Price Ever [Deal]"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67869/67869/67869-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67869/67869/67869-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Anki Vector Robot Now Available for Purchase [Video]"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67870/67870/67870-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67870/67870/67870-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Apple Posts Carpool Karaoke Season 2 Episode 1 With Jamie Foxx and Daughter [Video]"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67851/67851/67851-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67851/67851/67851-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Facebook Launches 3D Photos Feature That Uses iPhone's Portrait Mode Photos"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67861/67861/67861-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67861/67861/67861-128.jpg", "alt_text": "iPhone XS Max vs Samsung Galaxy S9 Battery Test [Video]"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67843/67843/67843-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67843/67843/67843-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Samsung Unveils Galaxy A9 Smartphone With World's First Rear Quad Camera [Video]"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67866/67866/67866-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67866/67866/67866-128.jpg", "alt_text": "New iPad Pro to Drop Headphone Jack, Slim Down to 5.9mm Thick?"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67836/67836/67836-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67836/67836/67836-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Apple Watch Series 4 Fall Detection Tested By Hollywood Stunt Double [Video]"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67863/67863/67863-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67863/67863/67863-128.jpg", "alt_text": "References to New iPad Pro Models Spotted in App Analytics"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67833/67833/67833-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67833/67833/67833-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Apple Acquires Startup That Removes the Background From Images and Video in Real Time"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67852/67852/67852-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67852/67852/67852-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Apple Will Sell a Clear Case for the iPhone XR"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67846/67846/67846-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67846/67846/67846-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Next Generation Apple Maps Car Spotted in Los Angeles [Photo]"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67855/67855/67855-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67855/67855/67855-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Sygic Car Navigation App Gets Apple CarPlay Support"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67858/67858/67858-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67858/67858/67858-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Get 26% Off a 2-Pack of Arlo Q Security Cameras [Deal]"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67828/67828/67828-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67828/67828/67828-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Apple to Make Original Content Free For Device Owners [Report]"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67849/67849/67849-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67849/67849/67849-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Apple Announces iOS 12 Adoption Has Reached 50% [Chart]"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67857/67857/67857-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67857/67857/67857-128.jpg", "alt_text": "1Password for Mac Gets Dark Mode Support, Disables Automatic Password Submission"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67831/67831/67831-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67831/67831/67831-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Mac Shipments Declined 8.5% in 3Q18 [Chart]"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67837/67837/67837-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67837/67837/67837-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Apple Reaches $600 Million Licensing and Acquisition Deal With Dialog"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/67840/67840/67840-128.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/67840/67840/67840-128.jpg", "alt_text": "Pocket Gets Updated Listen Feature, Enhanced Reading Experience"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.iclarified.com/41509/european-union-opens-investigation-into-tax-breaks-given-to-apple", "unformatted_src": "/images/news/41509/184292/184292-640.jpg", "src": "https://www.iclarified.com/images/news/41509/184292/184292-640.jpg", "alt_text": "European Union Opens Investigation Into Tax Breaks Given to Apple", "rendered_width": 640}, null, null, null]